The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-14

On!y Ue DrOuSuI " pdoo ohoci ehouhhao Va
years OF advance SO slow that as 1t goes on
1t is almost imperceptiblc.
The world moves on toward the millen-
mum, but to mortal eyes 1t is an exasper-
atingly slow progress, "for thousand years
In Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is
past, and as watch In the night"
PsychicaI Research in America.
We have received blank postal card, ad-
dressed to the Secretary OF the American
Society Of Psychical Research, with the sub
joined request:
"Plsa,e draw ten diagrams this card. without re-
ceving any suggestion any other person, and add
your nnmo and address"
Different persons. Of course would fill the
blank with different figures Perhaps
fairly representative collection Of the ten d.
agrams naturally occurring to the average
l. Tho circle alike the symbol of eternity and Of
nothingnesa
q The rectangular squi,a,sral paralslogram, or
square
g. The triangle.
4 The plus sign. emblem Of succss in life.
g. The star. formed by two intsrssctins trtanglss.
O. The lossnge diamond
Z. Tho conventional anatomical ngure OF the heart
familiar in childhood in peppermint candy and on val
sntnes and aftervard kept fresh In memory BY certain
games Of chance.
q Tho beloved dollar mark. or crossed perpen-
dicularly BY two parallel inea
o. The upright and two horizontal lines crossing at
right and forming the figure red by children In
the game Of tttattoo undercstimatcd intellectual
diversion which In fact teaches the arst principles Of
finance, poiitica diplomacy, and military strategy.
10 The round benevolent face, with axial lines radi
ussd in tha lima m
TEE suN which shines for all
That Is our selection, and the diagrams
are all 30 simple and familiar that the
printed description will answer the purpose
quite as well as pictorial representations,
besides being more convenient for use In
this place. The character Of the ten dia-
grams occurring most readily to the mag
nation and hand Of the draughtsman
must depend largely upon his occupation
and mental habits. An Egyptologist for
example, would be very likely to introduce
the h,eroglyph symbol Of the jackal-headed
god ANUBIs: while We have no doubt that
Col. Tom OoHIITREE would add to our dia-
mond and heart the spade and the club, and
perhaps fill out the List with zigzags repre-
sentinG wonderful three and four cushion
shots on the billiard table. In the same
way the architect. the mathematician, the
mineraiogist, the ornamental penman, and
the Bektasheeyeh would each inscribe upon
his postal card set of diagrams influenced
more or less by his professional associations.
and having to a certain extent a family re-
semblance to the contributions OF others Of
his own class. Furthermore, the astutely
shallow individual would betray his idiosyn-
Grassy by devising IN eccentric series Of
diagrams unlike anything on the earth or In
the water under the earth. The purpose Of
the Socety's singular postal card request Is
not explained. We suppose the investiga-
tors desire to accumulate mass OF material
In the way Of data for generalization as to
the commonest directions which human
thought takes in graphic expression with pen
Gil or pen. Or possibly there Is a still
deeper psychological intention. 1t may be
that this IL wholesale experiment In
observation-disclosures The Society may have
prearranged series Of diagrams, and may
be seeking to determine how far other poo
pie can be influenced to an unconscious repe-
tition OF tho Same figures, by means Of a
concerted wll-effort on the part OF the men,
bars who are In the secret
ing out circulars containing a request for
answers to the following questions, relative
to the prevalence of superstitious beliefs;
should ron DO Influenced by any feeling whether
Implying BELIEF or not Is mmateraD in regard 70:
~. Sitting down thirteen at table
"a Besinnine . voyage on Friday!
49, Seeing the new moon over your left shoudcrf
~ Choosing. your own account between two
otherwise ecu my desirable houssA ono Of which
putsd To be haunted"
Replying In tho Same spirit Of candor, we
should answer No to the first three qucs-
tions In the category. and Yes to the fourth,
We could sit down thirteen at table with
good appetite, provided the menu were at
hactive. We could begin voyage on Fri
day without apprehension OF evil. We could
make tho lunar observation over the left
shoulder with perfect tranquility, In the
case OF tho house reputed to be haunted, the
feeling against taking up our abode therein
would DO based, not upon any superstitious
fears but upon practical considerations too
obvious to require explanation. Such, we
Imagine, will be the answers Of a majority Of
rational persons with tho average equip
ment OF nervous tissue, Nevertheless, these
four questions are not entirely superfiuous
or silly. The fact remains that except
at the Thirteen Clubs defiant banquets, few
dinner tables on this continent, II any. are
arranged for the accommodation Of that
number Of people; that none OF the great
transatlantic steamship lines has ever. to
our knowledge selected Friday as the sailing
day; and that there arc still many charming
and intelliesnb women. sWeethsarts. wives.
. J.